Smyrna times., 1887-03-09
THE PRETTY ORPHAN.

THE PRETTY ORPHAN.
''She's a great deal too pretty" said
Mrs. Black, energetically twitchinS her
needle through the stocking she was darn
ing.
excellent business man, but he did not un-
derstand the complication of domestic
diplomacy.
.'WeH, my dear, that isn't her fault, is
Her FAULT No! Who said it wasp
snapped his wife. "YOu don't under
stand, Blackr'
NO. l suppose l don't" he returned,
meekly. But l must confess think it's
rather hard to turn the poor girl adrift,
after you have formally adopted her out
of the asylum. And she such good girl,
too"
Il thought it would be so nice to have a
daughter" sighed Mrs. Black.
And wasn't i. nicc:'
eyes. but never thought of her grow
ing up so pretty, and Frank falling in love
with her. "
Wouldn't she make a good little wife
for Frank
.Black, YOU talk like a child. Our
boys must marry rich. And Lila must
gOaway!'
''Where?'-
Il don't care; anywhere, so that she
will not be Il stumbling block in Franks
path. For l have set my heart on Frank
marrying Priscilla Grant. She has prop
ertv-she will be a suitable match"
''Yes, but my dear" hesitated Mr.
Black, "suppOse your precautions come
too late? Suppose she has already learned
to care for Franky'
sThen she must unlearn, that is all,
said Mrs. Black, sharply. 'Lilia is a nice
girl enough, but she must be taught to
know her place / shall send her to Aunt
AgneW-she has written to me for some
sort of a companion, and l think it is
likely that Lila will meet her wishes and
ideas At all events she will be gotten
out of Franks way. And Frank and Ed
ward must be our first consideration, you
know
SO Lila Redburn was called ina
dimpled, dark eyed girl, with coral red
lips and a shy, bewitching way of looking
at you from under her long eyelashes, and
told without much unnecessary preamble
that she was to be transferred to the roof
Of Miss Abigail Agnew, her adopted
fathers aunt.
She listened quietly; Lila was not one
Of those who wear their hearts and tongues
upon their sleeves; but her poor little
heart sank down, down, like lump Of
lead in her bosom. And that night she
cried herself to sleep
Miss Abigail Agnew was sitting in her
curious little room that evening when Lila
r. INT
room, and Miss Agnew was a quaint
woman, shriveled, ancient and bowed over,
with gold spectacles cleaning before her
Eyes, and priceless yellow lace, quilted
after an antique fashion, around her neck.
Come in, Lila, come in, - said the old
lady ''You see l know your name.
Price, to the maid, "bring the tea and
tOast You can't eat anything? Pshaw,
you must eat! I'm not one to be trifled
with, and | say you must eat. What made
my niece, Black, send you away Naughty
girl, eh?'
Lila cOlOred scarlet and dropped her
lids before the sharp, jetty fire Of the old
!ady's eyes.
Il hope not, ma'am tried to do my
best. II don't know exactly why she
sent me here"
Il do, then, +" said Miss Agnew, pouring
the tea out of a chased silver teapot into a
china set as delicate and transparent as
gilded egg shells. You were too pretty
my dear"
Il, ma aam?''
But we won't discuss the question
any further, my dear" said the old
woman, '..drink your tea and go to bed.
Tomorrow we will commence our dutiesr'
Lila Redburn was very happy in her
l..
but there was a kernel of real honest kind
ness beneath the dry and uninviting husk
Of her outward manner, and Lila soon
cOntrived to penetrate to it. Yet she
sighed Often-and Miss Agnew knew that
she was not happy.
Lila, she said one day, suddenly,
do you want to go back to my nephew
Black's?'
Lila burst into tears, and made her
simple confession inOne syllable.
''Ycsr'
'Why? Tell me honestly and truly,
my darling, - patting the blooming cheek
with her withered hand. ''Did YOU love
Frank Black -
'Frank; 0, Miss Agnew, no! wouldn't
carc-only for Nedr'
Ned, sh:'' said the old lady, scratching
her nose with the sticks Of her pearl fan.
Ned, know, l ought not to think of
linn, went on Lila, hiding her face on
Miss Abigai's lap, because 1 am only a
poor orphan and his parents are proud and
ambitious Of him, as it is right and natural
they should be. l don't complaint pray,
pray, dear Miss Agnew, don't think Pm
complaining, but it is hardr'
Docs he love you, my dear?"
He never told me So faltered Lila,
taking refuge behind the long lashes.
Does he love you, say?'' reiterated
the old lady.
Yes, think he does, " confessed Lila.
'Well, it's queer world we live in, -
said Miss Agnew, apparently addressing
herself to the parrot, when love can't
hold its own against money. Get your
hat, Lila, and we'H go for q walk. /
can't stay in the house when Pm irritated
In my mind"
Three days afterward Mrs. Black re-
ceived short note from Miss Abigail
AgneW:
DEAR NIECE-YOu have not been to see
Lila since she came here She is q good.
"iieotlonate girl, and / think she feels
your neglect. But / write particularly to
say that / have concluded to adopt q
.cr OF my own and settle all my
l rHierty upon her. e'Iittle proper
L., ejacuIated Mrs. Black. with a con
fulsiye gasp, land she is worth q quarter
OF a millionr) My lawyer thinks it is
due 20 all my relatives to notify them OF
this fact, so no more at present from yours.
very truly, ANN ABIGAIL AGTEw.
One minute Mrs. Black sat twisting the
note around and around in her fingers.
while her husband drew long, low whis-
tle--and then she had resolved upon her
tactics
Ned must go and see his aunt, she
declared.
"There spoke the womanr' observed
her husband. ''You want to make a
match between Ned and this new whim OF
Aunt Agnew's. l dare say she's little
girl Of g."
;'There is at least the chance" said
Mrs Black decidedly. "He can make an
excuse Of bringing Lila home to visit
u.s."
I'D like. 10 see deaE little Lila again. .
said the old gentleman. 'sNobody thinks
about airing the newspaper and warming
my slippers now that Lila is gone"
''She was a good girl enough" said
Mrs. Black, ''only a deal too pretty. But
now that Frank is away at the White
mountains -
And she hustled away to attend to the
summons Of Malvina, the cook, her head
=, Lnli Of her youngest son, and the fortunate
qamsel who was to inherit the colder
q nor ra1s r.E